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Definition of an Inversion
Cooler
air trapped near Earth surface, with warmer air acting as a lid Caused by cooling of the air near the ground at night Worsened by calm winds, clear skies, long nights, and surrounding mountains
Inversion
from vehicles, industry, and fire places are trapped, leading to high AQI (Air Quality Index) levels
greater the AQI level, the greater the air pollution and the greater the health concern
The
EPA has set NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards) for 6 common air pollutants:
Particulate matter Ground level ozone CO SO2 NO2 Pb
Particulate Matter
Particle
Matter
PM 10
Inhalable,
PM 2.5
Fine
Sources of PM and O3
Particulate Matter:
Ozone:
Burning of gasoline, natural gas, coal, oil and other fuels Industrial plants Agriculture (plowing or burning fields) Unpaved roads, mining, construction activities. Reaction of VOCs, NO2, So2 and other pollutants in the air (in the winter) Chemical reaction of pollutants; VOCs and NO2 (in the summer)
monoxide
Sulfur
dioxide
Primarily from stationary sources that burn fossil fuels, including power plants and refineries, and a byproduct of copper smelting
"Good" AQI is 0 - 50. Air pollution poses little or no risk. "Moderate" AQI is 51 - 100. For some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people. For example, people who are unusually sensitive to ozone may experience respiratory symptoms. "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" AQI is 101 - 150. People with lung disease, older adults and children are at a greater risk from exposure to ozone, whereas persons with heart and lung disease, older adults and children are at greater risk from the presence of particles in the air. "Unhealthy" AQI is 151 - 200. Everyone may begin to experience some adverse health effects.
In December 2009, the EPA found that Salt Lake, Utah, Cache, Box Elder, Toole, Davis, and Weber counties were not meeting federal health standards for PM 2.5
24-hr PM2.5 levels < 35 ug/m3 Annual PM2.5 levels < 15 ug/m3
The three-year average of the 98th percentile must be less than 35 or 15, respectively
We did meet this goal, and actually met the goal for the new standards of <12ug/m3, implemented 12/12.
In Summary:
Our
yearly goals for air quality are being met, but the winter inversion means that we are not meeting EPA standards on a daily basis throughout the winder. Areas not in compliance with NAAQS are known as nonattainment
matter:
Can cause nose and throat irritation, lung damage, bronchitis, and early death. Can cause breathing problems, reduced lung function, asthma, irritated eyes, stuffy noses, and reduced resistance to colds and other infections. It may also speed up aging of lung tissue.
Ozone:
Pediatric Asthma
The odds of an ED visit for asthma during the 5th-7th day of a continuous inversion are 1.42 (1.02-1.96) times the odds of an ED visit for asthma on a day when there is no inversion.
This suggests a 42% increase in the odds of going to the emergency department during a prolonged inversion This is significant, as ~21,000 children with asthma live in Salt Lake City
Air pollution causes morphologic changes in the placenta, inhibiting blood transfer to the fetus Pregnant women exposed to more air pollution have multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes including higher blood pressure, higher rates of pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, premature births, low birth wt. syndrome and neonates with smaller head circumference Air pollution is associated with higher rates of birth defects including neural tube and cardiac birth defects
Jan: 6.8 (2.8 are generally unhealthy) Feb: 0.7 Mar: 0.2 Apr: 0.5 May: 0.3 Jun: 1.7
Jul: 4.5 (0.5 are generally unhealthy) Aug: 2.2 Sept: 0.2 Oct: 0.2 Nov: 0.0 Dec: 2.0
12.67%
"Good" 0-12 g/m3 "Moderate" 12-34 g/m3
% Matched
8 6 4 2 0
6.25%
"Unhealthy"
PM 2.5 <55 1
PM 2.5 >55 2
How we measure up
According
#7 for 24-hr particle pollution #52 for high ozone days # 88 for annual particle pollution
2010, UofU initiated a 3-year, $1.3 million study to better understand the inversion, and effects on air quality Largest study of Utah atmospheric conditions in over a decade
Last week Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment held a press conference at the Utah State Capitol
They called upon Governor Herbert to take immediate action and declare Utahs air pollution a public health emergency.
Dr. Ellie Brownstein, Pediatrician, Dr. Rich Kanner, Pulmonologist, Dr. Cris Cowley, Cardiac Anesthesiologist, Dr. Brent Muhlestein, Cardiologist, Dr. Howie Garber, ED Dr. Kirtly Jones, Ob/Gyn
of the adverse affect of air pollution on placental blood flow and ultimately on chromosomal function, what we are experiencing right now can have life long and irreversible impacts on the health of babies in utero The systemic inflammatory response precipitated by air pollution does not disappear until weeks after the pollution has resolved
ENERGY: All new electric energy supplies for the state of Utah should come from renewable resources. State-of-the-art controls on existing plants A goal of attaining 25% renewable energy sources by the year 2020
GOVERNMENT: A 20% emissions reduction strategy by the Air Quality Board State funding for more extensive environmental monitoring Provide medical expertise to organizations working on urban planning, renewable power, increasing fuel efficiencies, and transportation alternatives.
Proposals, cont.
TRANSPORTATION: A reduction of the speed limit to 55mph when air pollution exceeds EPA limits Public subsidies for mass transit, free ridership and expanded service Encouragement for school districts to use school buses that runs on alternative fuels Policies that prohibit school buses should from idling in school yards while waiting for students
Proposals, cont.
EDUCATION: Strategies to increase public awareness about the negative health effects of air pollution The establishment of air pollution warning indices that promote the safety of pregnant women and their unborn children Educate people about the sources of pollution and their health consequences
Already in place
Red light/Green light program for wood burning Idle Free Utah Air Quality Alerts on freeway message boards
Ozone:
Salt
Carbon Monoxide:
Ogden,
SLC,
PM 2.5:
PM 10:
Salt
Sulfur dioxide:
Salt
If youre riled up
drmoench@yahoo.com
References
http://www.epa.gov/airquality/particlepollution/designations/2006standards/final/TSD/tsd_4.0_4.8_4.8.2_r08 _UT.pdf http://www.epa.gov/aircompare/compare-trip.htm http://www.epa.gov/air/criteria.html http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/slc/climate/TemperatureInversions.php http://www.deq.utah.gov/ http://www.airquality.utah.gov/aqp/slc-currentconditions.html http://www.airquality.utah.gov/Public-Interest/annual-report/.pdf/2012Annual%20Report.pdf http://www.unews.utah.edu/old/p/012710-2.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/msas/Salt-Lake-City-Ogden-Clearfield-UT.html http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/states/utah/salt-lake-49035.html http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=aqibasics.aqi http://www.uphe.org/
http://blog.utahmomsforcleanair.org/ http://kennecott.com/pledge-receive-free-uta-pass